October 24, 2007
The Company Mission – Enhance quality of life for team members BOISE, ID – October 24, 2007 – Does technology equal freedom? Some companies think so – companies like Pets Best Insurance who have found that allowing employees to work from home has increased productivity and employee satisfaction. When Jack Stephens, DVM, created the first and most successful pet insurance company in the United States over twenty-five years ago, there was not a model to follow or a plan in place to measure results. In 2005, Dr. Stephens launched a new pet insurance company called Pets Best Insurance to utilize his twenty-five years of experience. The Pets Best model is very simple: straightforward 80% coverage and rapid claim processing. While other insurance companies are building new claims processing centers, Pets Best Insurance is increasing productivity and decreasing its reliance on building space. Pets Best is one year into a program that offers multiple work-from-home positions, including claims and customer service. Like many of the team members at Pets Best Insurance, Shannon Moore applied for a job with Pets Best because she loves animals. She has always had pets as part of her family and has been working with animals as both a veterinary technician and certified animal trainer for over a decade. She wanted to turn her passion for animals and their care into a more rewarding career. In 2005, Shannon joined Pets Best Insurance as a claims adjuster and in early 2007 moved to working from home. This has allowed her the ability to keep a close eye on her retired professional jumping horse, “Eagle,” as well as her deaf dog, “Sid.” According to Shannon, Pets Best Insurance provides a level of freedom that includes making a great living while also creating an environment where she has the freedom to care for her pets and provides her with peace of mind that they are happy and healthy during the long workdays. “I have all of the resources I need to be successful. The entire claims team through our virtual office and chat room supports me. I have excellent computer equipment with full IT and phone support when needed. With our advanced technology and the communications among our team, it really seems funny that we ever needed to work in an office in the first place. I like being at home with my family. It is a perfect fit for me, and I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way now,” Shannon said. For Jared Hight, Claims Manager for Pets Best, this program has helped ensure that the claims department has access to the best possible talent from anywhere in the country with Internet access. It also places one more employee benefit in the Pets Best arsenal for obtaining and retaining that talent. “Although Pets Best was designed for remote workforce, when this program began we were not sure how it would work out. The success of remote work from home has surpassed our expectations. We have increased productivity by 45% for all of our claim adjusters and the team is very happy. There are now four adjusters working from home and I am the only one in the office. When we bring on new team members, they are required to spend several weeks at our offices in Boise training and learning the Pets Best culture before they work from home. It requires the right type of team member to work from home to be successful and it may not be good for everyone, but for our claims adjusting team it is highly successful,” he said. About Pets Best Insurance: Pets Best Insurance reimburses pet owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with no schedules or fee restrictions, truly establishing it as "Pet insurance that really pays!" Pets Best Insurance was founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the pioneer of American pet insurance with over 25 years in the pet insurance industry. Dr. Stephens is also an accomplished veterinarian and avid pet enthusiast. Pets Best includes a choice of three affordable coverage plans with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure and NO benefit schedules. The Pets Best Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet lovers who have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care. Visit Pets Best Insurance at www.petsbest.com or phone Pets Best Insurance at 877-PetsBest (738-7237). Pets Best, Simply the Best Pet Insurance.# # #